PREMIER PREPS: BOYS SOCCER – Meridian Star

Playoff success was one of several themes when examining the makeup of the 2016-17 Premier Preps boys soccer team.

The Meridian Star’s annual all area squad was selected based on each player’s contributions to his team. Several of those teams would go on to make some noise in the postseason.

For the second year in a row, the Lamar School boys soccer team made it to the MAIS Class AAAA, Division 2 title game. Though the Raiders would ultimately fall to Pillow Academy, it was still a successful season, made possible by some strong performances by its members.

Raider fans might best know Will Roberts for his skills as a wide receiver, but the senior forward was the Raiders’ primary scoring threat this winter, finishing the season with 24 goals, good enough to land him on the team as one of its two forwards. Brooks Brock, only a sophomore, played defense for Lamar and was credited with 21 steals, tied for second on the team. Fellow defender Leland Moseley led his team in steals with 28 and played in all 18 games for the Raiders.

After winning the state championship in MHSAA Classes 1-3A two seasons ago, the Southeast Lauderdale boys were able to make the North State title game (state semifinals) the next two seasons. The Tigers lost to Forest this season, but it was the latest in what’s been a strong run for the Southeast Lauderdale program in recent years.

Andres Alonso was a big part of that success this winter. The junior Tiger made the Premier Preps squad as a midfielder after starting for the fifth year in a row at Southeast Lauderdale. He finished the season with 14 goals and 10 assists, good enough to be named the Tigers’ Mr. Offense. He was also selected as Region 5-4A’s most valuable midfielder.

Clarkdale’s boys soccer team capped off its final year under head coach Steve Dennis by making the Classes 1-3A playoffs for the fifth season in a row. Junior Reggie Pech, who made our squad as a midfielder, helped his team’s cause by scoring 13 goals and dishing out five assists, good enough to earn him Clarkdale’s MVP award on offense. His teammate, senior Chase Stephens, was selected as a Premier Preps keeper, but could have made it at any position. While he had 25 saves in the goal, Stephens would sometimes play forward and midfielder on an as-needed basis, and he tallied five goals and five assists in the effort.

Stephens and Pech weren’t the only teammates to be paired up on the squad. Northeast Lauderdale’s Dalton Rogers and Keagan Pearson made the team as a forward and midfielder, respectively, and both were valuable pieces for the Trojans on offense. Rogers finished the season with 17 goals, and Pearson was one behind him with 16 while tallying 10 assists.

Two Neshoba County soccer players were selected to the Premier Preps team based on their defensive contributions. Philadelphia defender Marc Wood, who has signed with Itawamba Community College, was credited with 33 saves for the Tornadoes, while Neshoba Central’s Corbin Aperson led his team in minutes with 1,435 while helping contribute to eight shutouts as a team captain. 

Sometimes, a repeat performance makes you a standout. In the case of Newton County junior Joel Hill, he was the only player who made the Star’s all area soccer team for the second year in a row. Hill scored 10 goals for the Cougars, and he was also named Region 5-4A’s Most Outstanding Midfielder for the second-consecutive year.

While the selection of the Premier Preps boys soccer team may be over, the upcoming Premier Preps banquet on May 22 will further honor these athletes while also selecting a player and coach of the year. Be on the lookout for more information on that banquet leading up to that night.

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Will Roberts

Forward

Senior

Lamar School

Why he’s here: Will Roberts helped lead the Raiders to a second-consecutive berth in the MAIS Class AAAA, Division 2 title game. He served as the team’s primary scoring threat, finishing with 24 goals and five assists.

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Dalton Rogers

Forward

Senior

Northeast Lauderdale

Why he’s here: While he was named first-team All-Region 5-4A and the region’s Most Outstanding Midfielder, Rogers also saw time at forward for the Trojans. He finished the season with 17 goals.

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Keagan Pearson

Midfielder

Junior

Northeast Lauderdale

Why he’s here: While Rogers led the Trojans in goal, Pearson was just one behind him, finishing with 16 on the season. He also tallied 10 assists and was named first-team All-Region 5-4A.

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Andres Alonso

Midfielder

Junior

Southeast Lauderdale

Why he’s here: At his center midfield position, Alonso helped lead the Tigers to the Classes 1-3A state semifinal round. It was his fifth year to start at Southeast Lauderdale, and he was a team captain who finished with 14 goals and 10 assists. Alonso was also the team’s Mr. Offense, was named to the All-Region team and was also the region’s Most Valuable Midfielder

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Reggie Pech

Midfielder

Junior

Clarkdale

Why he’s here: Pech made the All-Region team for the fifth consecutive year and was named Clarkdale’s Most Valuable Player on offense. He finished with 13 goals and five assists on the year and has been a member of a team that has made the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.

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Joel Hill

Midfielder

Junior

Newton County

Why he’s here: Hill finished the season for Newton County with 10 goals and one assist and was named the team’s midfielder of the year while also earning the team’s Golden Ball Award. He was named Region 5-4A’s Most Outstanding Midfielder also made first-team All-Region.

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Brooks Brock

Defender

Sophomore

Lamar School

Why he’s here: Brock was a key component of the Lamar School team that made it to the Class AAAA, Division 2 title game for the second year in a row. He ended the season with 21 steals, which was tied for second on the team, and also scored two goals.

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Leland Moseley

Defender

Sophomore

Lamar School

Why he’s here: As a defender, Moseley led the Raiders in steals with 28, helping his team made it all the way to the MAIS Class AAAA, Division 2 title game. He played in all 18 games for Lamar.

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Corbin Apperson

Defender

Senior

Neshoba Central

Why he’s here: Apperson led his team in minutes played with 1,435 and was a team captain who helped contribute to eight shutouts. He made the All-Region team and also scored a goal on the season.

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Marc Wood

Defender

Senior

Philadelphia

Why he’s here: As a defender, Wood finished the season with 33 saves and also scored seven goals and dished out six assists. Wood signed with Itawamba Community College to continue his soccer career.

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Chase Stephens 

Keeper

Senior

Clarkdale

Why he’s here: As a member of five consecutive Bulldog teams to make the postseason, Stephens was a jack-of-all-trades who made the All-Region team for the third year in a row. He finished the year with 25 saves as a goalie and also played striker at times, tallying five goals and five assists. He was named Clarkdale’s defensive Most Valuable Player.